A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

Drop in new apprentices worries business

Business is concerned about a significant drop in the number of people starting apprenticeships and wants the federal government to come up with a policy to stop the decline.

The number of commencements for non-trade apprenticeships dropped 27 per cent in the March quarter, new figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show.

It continues the overall trend of a dramatic drop off over the past 12 months.

Commencements for trades apprenticeships - such as plumbing, electrical or construction trainees - have also dropped, albeit at a lesser rate.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said it raised serious concerns and warned changes to government incentives to employ apprentices was going to result in a fall in number of opportunities offered.

"It is of no comfort that these predictions have become reality," ACCI employment, education and training director Jenny Lambert said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Australia needs to do everything possible to encourage more businesses to employ apprentices, particularly in the many trades necessary to secure a strong and productive economy in the future."